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Simple English definitions for legal terms
march-in rights
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A quick definition of march-in rights:
March-in rights: A rule that allows the government to give someone else permission to use or take away the permission of the person who owns a patent for an invention that was paid for with government money, if the owner or their partner hasn't done enough to use or develop the invention within a reasonable amount of time.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: March-in rights refer to the government's authority to grant a new license or revoke an existing license for a federally funded invention if the owner or licensee has not adequately developed or applied the invention within a reasonable time.
For example, if a company receives federal funding to develop a new drug but fails to bring it to market within a reasonable time, the government may exercise its march-in rights and grant a new license to another company to develop and market the drug.
March-in rights are intended to ensure that federally funded inventions are used for the public good and not solely for the benefit of the patent owner or licensee. They provide a mechanism for the government to intervene if the owner or licensee is not fulfilling their obligations to develop and apply the invention.